Quality seed for sustainable aquaculture

For years, Southeast Asia has been known as a major contributor to world aquaculture production. This can be attributed to the fact that most Asian countries have developed and refined seed production and farming techniques for major commercially important aquaculture species and are now more aware of the merits of using quality seeds in aquaculture. Good quality seedstock means fit, ‘clean’, uniformly-sized fry, fingerlings, or juveniles (and for seaweeds, plantlets) that subsequently express good performance attributes during culture. These beneficial traits are desirable color, shape, good growth, health, efficient feed conversion, high reproduction, tolerance to and survival in poor and/or extreme environmental conditions. Success in the sustainable production of aquatic species for human consumption depends primarily on the availability of such good quality seedstock apart from the adoption of optimal husbandry techniques. With the intensification of aquaculture systems and the environmental challenges such as those resulting from climate change, both factors — genetic quality and culture management should be considered as equally important in ensuring a steady yield of good quality seeds and later, marketable products from aquaculture.

Program description

The program shall cover studies and activities that will determine optimal conditions and methods for the production of quality seedstock in sufficient quantities. The research activities entail the use of conventional methods of stock improvement such as domestication, broodstock management, strain evaluation and selective breeding or genetic improvement of traditional and emerging freshwater and marine species. The purpose of the genetic intervention is to enhance traits such as growth rate, survival, disease/stress tolerance that ultimately lead to the production of good quality seedstock. Both broodstock and seedstock improvement by way of nutritional intervention are also considered. Suitable hatchery and nursery protocols shall be developed and refined depending on the level of technology for each species. These technologies shall be verified and once mature, shall be packaged into the most viable or cost-effective method for broodstock and seed production. Finally, industry stakeholders, primarily the fish farmers shall be informed of the advances in seed production methods, through training, and the availability of the improved seed stocks through information dissemination and extension work.

Program goal

Generate, verify and promote technologies to ensure the sustainable production of quality seedstock for aquaculture as well as for stock enhancement.

Objectives

develop good quality broodstock for both traditionaland emerging species through domestication, genetic and nutritional intervention, and the implementation of proper stock management protocols;

improve quality and production of seedstock through the refinement of hatchery and nursery management methods;

develop schemes for the production, management, maintenance and dissemination of genetically selected and improved stocks;

produce sufficient seedstock through the adoption of economically viable seed production systems; and

build the capability of fishfarmers and other industry stakeholders in appropriate breeding and larval rearing technologies through training, extension and information dissemination

2012-2016 Targets

Shrimps/prawns and mud crabs

Potential sources of good quality broodstock surveyed in several sites in the Philippines; stocks collected for genetic documentation and genetic variability determined for the tiger shrimp, giant freshwater prawn and mud crabs

Improved and efficient low pollution prawn broodstock diet developed

Stocks of the monkey river prawn Macrobrachium lar surveyed, evaluated and larval rearing requirements of this indigenous prawn species determined

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